THE 



/A 
ACT OF INCORPORATION, 



AND THE 



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CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY, tta 



ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC. 



MJRTFOiili : V^wW^f / 

CHARLES BABCOCK, PRIKTER. ^» ®"?L**** 

.1825. 






C t1 



ACT OF INCORPORATION. 

At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, hol- 
den at Hartford, in said Stale, on the first Wednesday 
of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and twenty- five ; 

Upon the petition of John Trumbull, and others, 
shewing that in other States, Societies have been form- 
ed, for the purpose of collecting records and other doc- 
uments, connected with the early settlement of our 
country, and praying for an act of incorporation, for 
the purpose of discovering, procuring and preserving 
whatever may relate to the civil, ecclesiastical, and 
natural history of the United States, and especially of 
the State of Connecticut ; 

Resolved by this Assembly, That John Trumbull, 
Thomas C. Brownell, Timothy Pitkin, John S. Peters, 
William W. Ellsworth, Thomas Day, Thomas Robbins, 
Daniel Burhans, Thomas Hubbard, Isaac Tousey, 
Nathaniel S. Wheaton, George Sumner, Roger M. 
Sherman, William T. Williams, Martin Welles, Jo- 
seph Battell, William Cooley, Thomas H. Gallaudett, 
Thomas S. Williams, Eli Todd, Walter Mitchell, 
George W. Doanc, Samuel B. Woodward, Samuel H. 
Huntington, Samuel W. Dana, James Gould, Samuel 
A. Foot, Nathan Johnson, Hawley Olmstead, Benja- 
min Trumbull, and John Hall, and their associates and 
successors, be, and hereby are, ordained constituted and 
declared to be forever hereafter a body corporate, by 
the name of the Connecticut Historical >ociety s 
and by that name they, and their associates and sue 



censors, shall and may have perpetual succession, shall 
be capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being 
impleaded, and also to purchase, receive, hold, and 
convey any estate real or personal, to an amount not 
exceeding thirty thousand dollars ; and may have a 
common seal, and the same may alter at pleasure ; 
may establish rules, relative to the admission of future 
members ; may ordain, establish, and put in execu- 
tion such by-laws and regulations, not contrary to the 
provisions of this Charter or the laws of this :Stale, as 
shall be deemed necessary for the government of said 
corporation. 

And be it further Resolved, That the Governor of this 
State, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Judges ol the 
Superior Court, shall be ex-ojficio members of the So- 
ciety. 

And be it further Resolved, That said corporation 
shall meet once a year for the choice of a President, 
Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording 
Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers, as may 
be designated from time to time, by the by-laws of the 
Society. 

And be it further Resolved. That the first meeting of 
the Society shall be holden at the State House in Hart- 
ford, at such lime, as shall be designated by the Hon- 
ourable John Trumbull, notice thereof being previ- 
ously given in one or more newspapers printed in Hart- 
ford. 

Provided nevertheless, That this act of incorporation 
shall be subject to be revoked or altered at the pleasure 
of the General Assembly. 

A trite copy of Record, 
Examined and certified under the Seal of the State by 

Thomas Day, Secretary. 



CONSTITUTION 

OF THE 

CONNECTICUT HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Article I. 
It shall be the duty of every member of this Society, 
to obtain and communicate information relative to the 
civil, ecclesiastical, and natural history of this State, 
and of the United >tates. 

Article II. 
Every member, on his admission, shall pay to the 
Treasurer the sum of three dollars, and two dollars per 
annum so long as he shall continue a member of the 
same, or until he shall have attained the age of sixty 
years. The sum of twenty dollars, at any time paid 
by a member, shall entitle him to an exemption from 
all future annual payments. 

Article III. 

This Society shall meet quarterly on the Thursday 
immediately succeeding the first Wednesday in May, 
August, November, and February ; and at the meet- 
ing in May, shall proceed to elect, by ballot, the fol- 
lowing officers, viz : 

President, 

Vice-President, 

Corresponding Secretary, 

Recording Secretary^ 

Treasurer, and 

Standing Committee, of six members. 



Article IV. 

Seven members shall constitute a quorum for trans- 
acting ordinary business; but for the annual election 
of officers, the admission of new members, and the al- 
teration of this Constitution, fifteen members shall be 
necessary to constitute a quorum. 
Article V. 

The President shall preside at the meetings of the 
Society, shall have a casting vote when the votes of 
the members are equally divided, and may call special 
meetings of the Society, by causing notice of the same 
to be published in one or more of the newspapers prin- 
ted in Hartford, at least eight days previous to the time 
of such meeting. In the absence of the President, his 
duties shall be performed by the Vice President ; and 
if both President and Vice President shall be absent, 
by the Chairman of the Standing Committee. 
Article VI. 

The Corresponding Secretary shall have the custody 
of all letters addressed to the Society, which he shall 
read at the quarterly meetings, and afterwards deposit 
in the Cabinet; he shall prepare all letters written in 
the name and on behalf of the Society, copies of which 
he shall preserve ; he shall give notice to new mem- 
bers of their election ; and, in general, shall, at his own 
option, or at the request of the Standing Committee, of 
which he shall be, ex officio^ a member, enter into cor- 
respondence with any individual or association, rela- 
tive to the objects of this Society ; copies of the same, 
and their several replies, to be read at the quarterly 
meetings, and preserved in the Cabinet. 

Article VII. 
The Recording Secretary shall have custody of the 
records, papers, and seal, of the Society; shall furnish 



certificates of membership to all new members ; shall, 
when directed by an authorized officer of the Society, 
call meetings of the same ; and shall keep an accurate 
journal of the transactions of the Society. 
Article VIII. 
The Treasurer shall receive all monies due, and all 
donations or bequests of money made to the Society. 
He shall pay to the order of the Chairman of the Stand- 
ing Committee, such sums as may be required for the 
ordinary expenses of the Society, and such as the So- 
ciety may otherwise direct to be paid. He shall keep 
a true and faithful account of all monies received and 
paid by him, and of the property and debts of the Soci- 
ety ; and shall, at the annual meeting in May, render a 
particular statement of the same, to be examined and 
audited by a committee for that purpose, appointed by 
the Society. 

Article IX. 
It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee to 
solicit and receive donations for the Society, and the 
same have deposited in some convenient place, for the 
benefit of its members ; to regulate and pay the ordina- 
ry expenses of the Society ; to provide a place for its 
meetings ; and to recommend plans for the promotion 
of its objects. They shall meet at least once in three 
months, to prepare and digest business, and to execute 
such other duties as may from time to time be commit- 
ted to them by the Society. The person first named 
on the Standing Committee, or in his absence, the per- 
son next named, shall be Chairman, and the person 
last named shall be Secretary of the same. 
Article X. 
The names of all persons who shall make donations 
of money, books, manuscripts, coins or other articles 



8 

for the benefit of this Society, or who shall make de- 
posits of books, manuscripts, coins, or other articles for 
such benefit, shall be recorded in a book provided for 
that purpose, under the direction of the Standing Com- 
mittee. 

Article XI. 
The election of members shall be by ballot ; the 
votes of two thirds of the members present being ne- 
cessary to a choice. No person shall be elected a 
member of this Society who has not been proposed at 
the quarterly meeting last preceding the time of such 
election ; Provided however, That this last named clause 
shall not take effect until after the first quarterly meet- 
ing of the Society ; and that after that time no mem- 
ber shall, at the same meeting, propose more than one 
person to be elected to the privileges of membership. 
Article Xll. 
Honorary members, not at any time to exceed twen- 
ty four, may in like manner be chosen by this Society. 
But these shall not be subject to the provisions of Arti- 
cle II. of this Constitution. 

Article XIII. 
This Constitution may be amended at any annual 
meeting ; but no amendment shall at any time be re- 
ceived unless notice thereof be given at the annual 
meeting last preceding ; nor shall any amendment be 
adopted, unless approved by three-fourths of the mem- 
bers present. 

Article XIV. 
Every member of this Society, except honorary- 
members, shall subscribe this Constitution. 



i wowlw< 



The Connecticut Historical Society was incor- 
porated at the last Session of the Legislature, for the 
purpose of collecting and preserving whatever may 
serve to illustrate the History, civil, t cclesmstical and 
natw at oHh'is State, and of the United States ; and of 
disseminating all useful information which may be ac- 
quired relative to the same. 

In regard to their civil and ecclesiastical history , there 
is a lamentable deficiency in the literature of the Uni- 
ted States. Of the period immediately succeeding 
their first settlement almost nothing is known, and even 
of the earlier portion of that most interesting half cen- 
tury which has just been co ipleted, how few are the 
authentic memorials ! In a little while the names and 
deeds of those days of peril ms enterprize, will be be- 
yond the reach of our research. When a few more 
grey-headed men shall have passed away from among 
us, we shall only have in addition to the meager rec- 
ords which we now possess, the uncertain echo of re- 
mote tradition. Is it asked, how shall this be avoided ? 
We answer, by soliciting from those of the worthies of 
old time who still remain, and from the descendants of 
those who do not, whatever papers or information they 
may possess, illustrative of our early history. The re- 
sult will be found not merely in rescuing from speedy 
destruction many valuable documents, but in admon- 
ishing the fathers of the land to recall and record for 



10 

the benefit of their children, the scenes in which they 
were engaged, the councils at which they assisted, and 
the struggles in which they partook. 

In these departments, the state in which the Society is 
established, presents a most favorable field for interesting 
and profitable research. The settlement of Connecticut 
was commenced within a very few years after the landing 
at Plymouth, by men, who, whether their rank in socie- 
ty, their talents, or their virtues be considered, fully war- 
rant the remark of the historian — '' this was an honour- 
able company." While the inhabitants were yet but 
few, struggling against the thousand difficulties of their 
situation, when provisions were scarce, when from the 
severity of the winters their working cattle were most- 
ly lost, when the whole colony could not furnish as 
many as ten ploughs, and men were obliged to go arm- 
ed to their daily labours, and to the house of God, the 
troubles with the Indians commenced. These were 
not ended when the colonists of Connecticut were cal- 
led on to assist in repelling the inroads of the French. 
And when the wounds incurred in that war were not 
yet healed, and the experience and fearlessness of dan- 
ger which had then been put to the test were yet undi- 
minished, the difficulties which led to American inde- 
pendence commenced, and that battle was fought 
which so effectually dispelled the charm of British in> 
vincibility, and in which the troops of the Connecticut 
line bore a part so distinguished. Of all this eventful 
period, and of the whole of that momentous struggle 
which succeeded, and of thatinterval scarcely less mo- 
mentous which immediately preceded the adoption of 
the federal Constitution, how deficient are we in those 
details which render the narrative of the historian sat- 
isfactory and lend to the page of poetry and historic ro- 



11 

mance, that vividness which is its greatest charm. 
And yet in these two hundred years, what patient suf- 
fering and hardy courage must have been displayed, 
what triumphs of Christian consolation and of Chris- 
tian chari'y must have been manifested, what 
vicissitudes endured, what varieties of character 
elicited, what lessons of pure morals and sound wisdom 
embodied in that best of all possible forms, the exam- 
ple of the living ! Much of this is now irretrievably 
lost ; but if any portion can yet be snatched from ob- 
livion, if any remains of antiquity can be raked from 
the ruins of the past, to illustrate our history ; if any 
names of ancient valour, or of ancient piety, can be 
gathered from among the graves of our fathers to ani- 
mate the patriotism and virtue of their sons, we shall 
not have laboured in vain. 

For the promotion of this object it will be our effort 
to collect whatever of printed or manuscript records 
may tend to illustrate our early history ; all books, and 
pamphlets published within the state or in reference 
to its concerns or those of the United States ; all Amer- 
ican coins ; all ancient relics of Indian or civilized 
life ; whatever, in short, is in any degree connected 
with American history and antiquities in general, and 
more especially with those of the State of Connecti- 
cut. 

In pursuing their researches in the natural History 
of the country, and especially of their own State, it 
will be the object of the members to collect and pre- 
serve specimens in every department of natural sci- 
ence ; and from time to time to communicate such 
useful information as may result from their own la- 
bours, or be imparted to them by others. An accurate 
survey, Geographical, Botanical, Mineralogical, and 



f f: 



12 

Agricultural, as well as Historical and Statistical, of the 
Siate of Connecticut, would for its great utility be wor- 
thy of the Society ; and though a work of time and la- 
bour, would not, it is believed, be beyond the reach of 
its efforts 

Th e agency of the Society in collecting and preserv- 
ing statistical information of every kind, must be re- 
garded as highly important. Whoever has made such 
inquiries his business or amusement has felt the want 
of similar repositories. For present satisfaction, and 
for the information of future historians and statesmen, 
tley are invcilu ible. We should but imperfectly per- 
form our duty if, in the ardour of our devotion to the 
past, these interests were fo, gotten or neglected. 

In forming the Historical I ibrary, and the Cabinet 
as well of natural, as uf civil and ecclesiastical history, 
and antiquities, while our own exertions will not be wan- 
ting, we feel authorized by the conviction that the Socie- 
ty by assisting to devel >pe the resources and illustrate 
the ancient institutions and laws of the country, and in 
general by informing the public mind, may pn mote the 
common good, to call upon our fellow citizens for their 
encouragement and assistance. Whatever advantages 
may ensue, will, under suitable regulations, be open to 
all. 

The following list enumerates the principal objects 
which cone within the view of the Society Any of 
the articles therein specified, will be gratefully received 
and carefully preserved, subject, if required, to be with- 
drawn at any time from the Library or Cabinet by the 
person depositing them. 

Manuscripts, Records, Pamphlets, and Books, rela- 
tive to the History of this State, and of the United 
States \ 



13 

Orations, Sermons, Essays, Discourses, Poems and 
Tracts, written, or delivered, on any public occa- 
sion, or in reference to any remarkable character or 
event ; 

Laws, Journals, Copies of Records, and Proceedings 
of Congresses, Legislatures, General Assemblies, Con- 
ventions, Committees of Safely, Secret <*ommittes, 
Treaties ami Negotiations with Indian Tribes, or with 
any Slate or Nation ; 

Proceedings of Ecclesiastical Conventions or Coun- 
cils, of all denominations of Christians ; 

Narratives of Missionaries, Proceedings of Missiona- 
ry or other Religious Societies ; 

Accounts of Universities, Colleges, Academies, or 
Public Schools, their origin, progress and present slate; 
C italogues of Libraries, Transactions of Societies for 
Literary, S cientific, or Political purposes ; 

Topographical descriptions of Cities, Towns, Coun- 
ties, kc with maps ; 

Tables of Diseases. Births, Deaths, and Population, 
Accounts of Exports and Imports at various periods, 
and of the progress of Commerce, Manufactures, and 
Agriculture ; 

Meteorological observations of every kind ; 

Memoirs, Anecdotes and epistolary Correspondence 
of eminent Americans, or of others connected with the 
settlement and history of America ; 

Magazines, Reviews, Pamphlets, Newspapers, &:c. 
especially those of an early date ; 

All Books, Pamphlets, &c. published within the 
State ; 

Original Essays on the Civil, Ecclesiastical and Nat 
ural History of any State, City, Town, &,c. 



14 

Specimens in every department of Natural Science. 

All communications for the Society, or Donations to 
its Library or Cabinet, are to be transmitted to Hart- 
ford, addressed to Thomas Day, Esq. Recording Sec- 
retary ; or to the Rev. George W. Doane, Secretary of 
the Standing Committee. 



LBJL '04 



CHOSSN MAY, 1825. 
■■>#>■ ■ 

President, 
Hon. JOHN TRUMBULL. 

Fi'ce- President, 
Rt. Rev. THOMAS C. BROWNELL, D. D. ; LL. D. 

Corresponding- Secretary , 
REV. THOMAS ROBBINS. 

Recording Secretary. 
THOMAS DAY, Esq. 

Standing Committee. 
Hon. TIMOTHY PITKIN, Chairman. 
Rt. Rev. T. C. BROWN ELL, D. D. ; LL. D. 
Rev. NATHANIEL S. WHEATON. 
MARTIN WELLES, Esq. 
WILLIAM W. ELLSWORTH, Esq. 
Rev. THOMAS ROBBINS, (ex officio.) 
Rev. GEORGE W. DOANE, Secretary. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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